Values and Youth Care Interventions: The Case of Triple P

Abstract

Our investigation turns the attention to the unspoken values and beliefs of a preventive intervention, namely Triple P. Currently, the child-care system is dominated by an emphasis on preventive and early interventions. In the Netherlands specifically, the former Ministry of Youth and Family (2007–10) has incited a transition of the youth care system towards more preventive and effective care for children and youth. With this tendency comes a strong focus on evidence-based practices. This focus on effectiveness, however, leaves another important element of interventions largely unspoken. Youth care interventions are also influenced by values and beliefs of its developers and of the professionals working with these interventions. Our investigation turns the attention to these unspoken values and beliefs through the content analysis of relevant documents, interviews and observations of such a preventive intervention, namely Triple P. The results show that, in the case of Triple P, the intervention is not only highly individualised, but it also sends across contrasting messages of ‘free choice’ versus adjustment to and conformation with the norms of society.